Switch



y 30, 1940- L. c. WOLCOTT 2,209,868

SWITCH Filed Dec. 9, 1939 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented July 30, 1940UNITED STATES PATENT orslcs SWITCH Application December 9, 1939, SerialNo. 308,357

8 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches and more particularly toswitches adapted to be mounted in a compartment and actuated by aclosure member for the compartment.

An object of the present invention is to construct and arrange the partsof the switch in such a manner as to facilitate rapid assembly of aswitch actuator with a switch assembly without the use of tools.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a switch sub-assemblyincluding a novel one-piece molded base, stationary and movable contactsand a contact actuating spring, said sub-assembly being self-containedand being so constructed as to permit the assembly of the actuator withthe sub-assembly without the use of tools, the parts of the sub-assemblycooperating with the actuator to retain it in assembled relation withoutthe use of any additional parts.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the number of parts and tosimplify the structure of the individual parts so as to reduce the costof production.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention isclearly shown.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the switch embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view of the switch.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a view showing the manner of how the switch actuator isassembled to the switch 40 base.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view illustrating that the actuator for the switchcannot be disassembled from the base when all of the stationary elementsof the switch structure are assembled in their proper relation.

Referring to the drawing 20 designates an insulating base preferablymolded to the shape illustrated, having integral apertured projections2i on the top surface thereof to received means for mounting the baseupon a suitable support. The base 2| is also formed with a deep centralrecess 22 opening out upon the top surface and with shallow recesses 23disposed on opposite sides of the recess 22 to provide platforms 24 thatare in the same plane. The platforms 24 have apertures 25 which arecounterbored to form shoulders 26. A metal contact 2? rests on eachplatform 24 and each contact is attached to the base by an eyelet 28having its shank extending into the aperture and spun over against theshoulder 22: to attach the contact to the base 2U. Each contact 21 has aportion extending into the central recess 22 as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

A flanged movable contact 30 is yieldably urged against the contacts 2'!by a coil spring 3|. One end of the spring (it rests against the bottomof the recess and the other end of spring bears against the flangedportion of the movable contact It is to be understood that the flangedmovable contact 39 could be eliminated if so desired and the spring iii]act as the movable contact. When this is done the spring 3| is made ofphosphor bronze or other suitable metal with both endsof the springclosed and ground.

The base 28 is molded with rectangular openings 32 and 33. In thisinstance these openings are disposed at right angles to the center lineof the shallow recesses 23 as viewed in Fig. 1. The upper entrances ofthe openings 32 and 33 are restricted by lugs 35 and 35 respectively. Itwill be noted that the lugs 35 restrict the entrance to opening 33 morethan the lugs 34 restrict the entrance to the opening 32, see Fig. 1.The lower ends of the openings 32 and 33 are provided with notches 32aand 33a respectively. It will be noted that the notches 33a extend asubstantial distance upwardly into the opening 33, see Fig. 5. Thenotches 33a receive a plug 36 which extends across th opening 33. Thelower ends of openings 32 and 33 are closed by insulating inserts 37.Each insert is provided with ears 31a. which are received by therespective notches provided in the openings 32 and 33. It is to beunderstood that the plug 36 could be formed integral with the insertwhich would close the opening 33. The inserts 3'1 are press fitted intothe openings 32 and 33 to close same to prevent foreign matter fromentering the lower ends of the openings. The base is also molded with apair of aligned notches 38 equal in width to the distance between thepairs of lugs 34 and 35. The depth of each notch 38 is equal to thedepth of the central recess 22. The notches extend from the upper faceof the base and form a communication between the openings 32 and 33 andact as a guide for an actuator or lever 39.

The actuator or lever 39 of substantially triangular shape is molded ofsuitable insulating material. The lever 39 is provided with two pairs oflaterally extending aligned bosses 40 and 4|. The pairs of bosses arespaced apart by a portion 42 adapted to rest or engage the movablecontact 3E1 as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the present instancethe bosses 4| are slightly larger than the bosses 40 and the bossesengage the under side of the lugs while the bosses engage the under sideof lugs 34. The bosses M cooperate with the lugs 34 to form a stop forthe lever in one direction of movement. The lever 39 is provided with anextension 43 which cooperates with the top surface of the base 26 toform a stop for the lever in the opposite direction.

The assembly of the lever 39 to the base will now be described.Referring to Fig. 5, the lever is placed in an abnormal position shownin full lines. It will be noted that inserts 3? are removedfrom theopenings 32 and 33. The end of the lever 39 having the smaller bosses4%] is inserted .first into the opening 33 as only the bosses at canpass through the restricted space which is between the lugs 35 and theinner wall of the opening 33. The rear end of the lever 33 is liftedupwardly toward the right and then pushed downwardly until the largerlugs 4! pass the restricted space formed by the lugs 3 and the innerwall of the opening 32. When the lugs 4! pass the lower side of the lugs34 the spring will urge the lever 39 upwardly so that the bosses :33-and M will engage their respective lugs as shown in Fig. 4.

When the lever 39 is in the position shown in Fig. 4, the plug 36' andthe inserts are then press fitted into their respective openings. Theplug 36 limits the downward movement of the lever in the opening 33,thus the lever cannot be accidently disassembled from the base 20. Inorder to remove the lever 33 from the base the plug 36) and the insert31 which. hold the plugs the opening 33 must be removed. When the lever39' is in the position shown in Fig. 4 the lever is secured inits properassembled relationship-with the remainder of the structure, the lugs 50cooperating with the lugs 35 to-form a pivot for the lever and the lugs34 cooperating with the bosses M to form a stop tolimit the outwardmovement of the lever.

The switchis adapted to be mounted on a wall in a refrigerator cabinetand in close proximity to thedoor. The shank portions of the eyelets 23areadapted to receive bared' ends of insulatedwires, not shown, toconnect the switch with a source of electrical energy. It will beunderstood that the bared conductor ends are soldered: to the eyelets.

The operation of the switch is as follows: As the door is'closed thelever 39-is movedinwardly about its pivot bosses 43 thereby moving theflange contact against the tension of the spring 3!, out of engagementwith the stationary contacts 21 to open the switch. When the door isopened, the spring 3i urges the contact 33 and the lever 39 outwardlyuntil the contact 30 engages the contacts 21 to close the switch.

- Whenit is desired to disassemble the lever 39 from the base 2!]- theinsert 31 and the plugs 33 are removed from the opening 33, then thelever 39 is moved in a clockwise direction from the-positionshown inFig. 4 to-the position shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 5. Whenthelever 39 is being removed the bosses 4! firstcooperate with the lugs 34to form a pivot for the lever. Upon continued movement of the lever 39in a clockwise direction a cam portion l l formed integral with leverwill cooperate with the outer wall of the opening 33, to thrust thelever 39 toward a vertical position and cock the spring in a mannershown in Fig. 6. As the lever 33 is moved further into the opening 33the action of the cam M will force the bosses M toward the restrictedspace in the opening 32. When the bosses, ll have moved the requireddistance the spring 3i will act upon the lever 33 to thrust the bossesthrough the space between the lugs B l and the inner wall of the opening32 and above the top surface of the base 23. When this occurs the bosses83 on the lever 33 can be easily pulled through the restricted spaceformed by the lugs 35- and the inner wall of the opening 33.

It will thus be seen that I have provided a simple and compact switchwhich can be easily assembled. or disassembled without the use of tools,which is reliable and efficient in operation, which embodies theadvantages of pivoted actuator which requires no screws, pins or othersecuring means to maintain the actuator in a pivotalrelationship with.respect to a base which supports the. stationary contact which inturnconfines the mdvable contact within the base.

While the. embodiment of the present. invention as hereindisclosed,constitutes a preferred form, is. tobe understood. that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What. is claimed is. as follows:

l. A. switch comprising in combination; a subassembly includingstationary contacts, a yieldable bridging contact normally engaging thestationary contacts and a body which locates the stationary contacts inthe same plane and which guide theyieldablecontact into. engagement withthe. stationary contacts and which provides a pocket for the yieldablecontact; means for securing the stationary contacts to the body, saidstationary contacts, when secured, confining the yi-el'dable bridgingcontact within the body; and a lever having two pairs of laterallyextending. spaced pins, said pairs of pins being spaced by a portion ofthe lever which engages the bridging contact, one pair of pins acting asa pivot for. thelever and the otherpair of. pins operating as astopfor'the lever.

2. A switch comprising in combination; a subassembly includingstationary contacts, a movable bridging contact, a spring urging thebridging contact against the stationary contacts and a body whichlocates the stationary contacts in the same plane and which guides themovable contact into engagement with thestationary contact and whichprovides a pocket for the spring; means for securing the stationarycontacts to the body, said stationary contacts, when secured, confiningthe bridging contact and the spring within the body; and a lever havingtwo pairs of integral laterally extending spaced bosses, said pairs ofbosses being spaced by a portion of the lever which engages the bridgingcontact, one pair ofbosses acting as a pivot for the lever and the otherpair of bosses operating as a stop for plane and which guides theyieldable cBntact into engagement with the stationary contact and whichprovides a recess for the yieldable contact; means for securing thestationary contacts to the body said stationary contacts, when secured,confining the yieldable contact within the body, said body havingpockets respectively for receiving the pairs of pins of said lever, apair of lugs associated with each pocket for restricting the entrancesto said pocket in a manner such that, for all operating positions of thelever said lugs prevent escape of said pins of the lever from saidpockets, one pair of lugs serving as a pivot bearing for one pair ofpins of the lever, the other pair of pins cooperating with the otherpair of lugs to provide a stop for the lever, said lever being movableagainst the action of the yieldable contact into abnormal positionwherein the pairs of spaced pins of the lever can be locatedrespectively in alignment with the entrance portions of said pockets.

4. An electric switch comprising in combination a base having a recessopening to the upper surface thereof, said base also having a pair ofnotches extending radially from the marginal wall of the recess;stationary contacts supported by the base and located in substantiallythe same plane on the base; a movable bridging member; resilient meansdisposed between the bottom wall of the recess and the bridging memberto bring said bridging member into engagement with the stationarycontacts; means for securing the stationary contacts to the base, saidstationary contacts, when secured, confining the bridging member and theresilient means within the recess; an actuator having a portion adaptedto engage the movable bridging member, said portion having a sliding fitwithin the notches, said actuator having two pairs of laterallyextending bosses and spaced apart by the bridging member engagingportion of the actuator; and two pairs of lugs supported by the base,one pair of lugs providing a stop for the actuator and the other pair oflugs forming a pivot for the actuator.

5. In an electric switch in combination; a molded insulating base havinga recess formed therein and opening to the upper surface thereof, saidbase having through openings on opposite sides of the recess, saidopenings being restricted at one end thereof to provide spaced lugs,said body also having a pair of aligned notches equal in width and depthformed in the upper surface thereof and respectively leading from theopenings to the recess; stationary contacts located in substantially thesame plane carried by the base; a movable bridging contact and a springlocated within the recess which urges the movable contact intoengagement with the stationary contacts, said stationary contacts, whensecured, confining the movable contact and the spring within the recess;a lever having a sliding fit with the aligned notches and having aportion adapted to engage the movable contacts; laterally extendingbosses at each two ends of the lever and respectively engaging the underside of the lugs to prevent escape of the lever in all operatingpositions of the lever, the bosses at one end serving as a pivot bearingfor one end of the lever, the other bosses of the lever cooperating withthe lugs of the body to provide a stop for the lever, said lever beingmovable against the action of the spring into an abnormal positionwherein the bosses at each end of the lever can be located respectivelyin alignment with the unrestricted portions of the openings in order toremove the lever from the body.

6. An electric switch comprising, a sub-assembly unit includingstationary contacts; a yieldable bridging member normally engaging thestationary contacts; a body which locates the stationary contacts in thesame plane and which provides a recess extending throughout the majorportion of the depth for the yieldable bridging member, said stationarycontacts confining the bridging member within the recess, said bodyhaving a pocket on each side of the recess and communicating with therecess, said body supporting lugs restricting the entrance of eachpocket; and a lever having a pair of laterally extending abutments, saidabutments being spaced by a portion of the lever adapted to engage theyieldable bridging member, said bridging member biasing the lever sothat lugs in one pocket serve as a pivot bearing for one abutment to thelever, the lugs of the other pocket cooperating with the other abutmentto provide a stop for the lever, said lever being movable against theaction of the bridging member into an abnormal position wherein theabutment against the stop can be made free of the stop to remove thelever from the body.

'7. An electric switch comprising in comb-ination; a molded insulatingbase, said base having a central recess opening to the upper surfacethereof, said base having through openings on opposite sides of therecess, said openings having restrictions on each side thereof on uppersurface of the base to provide spaced lugs, said. base also having apair of aligned notches equal in width to the spaced lugs and in depthto the recess adapted to afford communication between the openings andthe recess; stationary contacts supported by the base and located insubstantially the same plane on the base; a movable bridging member; acoiled spring interposed between the bottom wall of the recess and thebridging member to bias normally the bridging member into engagementwith the stationary contacts, means for securing the stationary contactsto the base, said stationary contacts, when secured, confining themovable contact and the spring within the recess; an actuating leverhaving a sliding fit between the spaced lugs in the openings and thealigned notches, said actuator having two pairs of laterally extendingbosses, said bosses being spaced apart by a portion of the actuatoradapted to engage the movable bridging member, said bosses cooperatingwith the lugs in the respective openings to prevent escape of theactuator in all operating positions, the lugs in one opening serving asa pivot bearing for one pair of bosses of the actuator, the lugs in theother opening cooperating with the other pair of bosses of the actuatorto provide a stop for the actuator, said lever being movable into anabnormal position to cook the spring wherein the bosses can be locatedrespectively in the openings to permit removal of the actuator from thebase.

8. An electric switch comprising, a sub-assembly unit includingstationary contacts, a yieldable bridging member normally engaging thestationary contacts, a body which locates the stationary contacts in thesame plane and which provides a recess extending throughout a majorportion of the depth for the yieldable bridging member, said stationarycontacts confining the bridging member within the recess, said bodyhaving a pocket on each side of the recess and communicating with therecess; means restricting the entrances to said pockets; and a leverhaving a. pair of laterally extending abutments, said abutments beingspaced by a portion. of the lever adapted to engage the yieldablebridging member, said bridging member biasing the lever so that therestricting means in one pocket serves as a pivot bearing for one pairof abutments of the lever, the other restricting means in the otherpocket cooperating with the other pair of abutments to provide a stopfor the lever, said lever being movable'against the action of thebridging member into an abnormal position wherein the abutments againstthe restricting stop means can be made free of the stop to remove thelever from the body.

LESLIE C. WOLCOTT.

